The
Narrow Road versus the Broad Road....
"...I saw two roads. One was broad, covered with sand and flowers, full of
joy, music and all sorts of pleasures. People walked along it, dancing and
enjoying themselves. They reached the end without realizing it. And at the end
of the road there was a horrible precipice; that is, the abyss of hell.
The souls fell blindly into it; as they walked, so they fell. And their number
was so great that it was impossible to count them. And I saw the other road, or
rather, a path, for it was narrow and strewn with thorns and rocks; and the
people who walked along it had tears in their eyes, and all kinds of suffering
befell them. Some fell down upon the rocks, but stood up immediately and went
on. At the end of the road there was a magnificent garden filled with all sorts
of happiness and all these souls entered there. At the very first instant they
forgot all their sufferings" (Diary 153)
Unconceivable
beauty of Heaven
" November 27, 1936. Today I was in heaven, in spirit, and I saw its unconceivable beauties and the happiness that
awaits us after death.
I
saw how all creatures give ceaseless praise and glory to God.
I
saw how great is happiness in God, which spreads to all creatures, making them
happy; and then all the glory and praise which springs from this happiness
returns to its source; and they enter into the depths of God, contemplating the
inner life of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, whom they will
never comprehend or fathom.
This
source of happiness is unchanging in its essence, but it is always new, gushing
forth happiness for all creatures.
Now
I understand Saint Paul, who said, “Eye has not seen, nor has ear heard, not has it entered into the heart of man what God has
prepared for those who love him.”
And
God has given me to understand that there is but one thing that is of infinite
value in His eyes, and that is love of God;
love, love and once again, love; and nothing can compare with a single act of
pure love of God.
Oh,
with what inconceivable favors God gifts a soul that loves Him sincerely! Oh,
how happy is the soul who already here on earth enjoys His special favors! And
of such are the little and humble souls.
The
sight of this great majesty of God, which I came to understand more profoundly
and which is worshipped by the heavenly spirits according to their degree of
grace and the hierarchies into which they are divided, did not cause my soul to
be stricken with terror or fear; no, no, not at all!
My
soul was filled with peace and love, and the more I come to know the greatness
of God, the more joyful I become that He is as He is.
And
I rejoice immensely in His greatness and am delighted that I am so little
because, since I am little, He carries me in His arms and holds me close to His
Heart.
O
my God, how I pity those people who do not believe in eternal life; how I pray
for them that a ray of mercy would envelop them too, and that God would clasp
them to His fatherly bosom... " (Diary 777).
...and
know that all this beauty is nothing compared to what I have prepared for you
in eternity
When I was at Kriekrz to replace one of the sisters
for a short time, I went across the garden one afternoon and stopped on the
shore of the lake; I stood there for a long time, contemplating my surroundings.
Suddenly I saw the Lord near me, and He graciously said to me, All this I created for you.....and know that all this beauty
is nothing compared to what I have prepared for you in eternity. .... Oh, how
the infinitely good God pursues us with His goodness! It often happens that the
Lord grants me the greatest graces when I do not at all expect them. (158)
..God..allows man to participate in such a high
degree in His divine happiness!
After I had gone into the refectory, during the reading, my whole being found
itself plunged in God. Interiorly, I saw God looking at us with great pleasure,
I remained alone with the Heavenly Father. At that moment, I had a deeper
knowledge of the Three Divine Persons, whom we shall contemplate for all
eternity and, after millions of years, shall discover that we have just barely
begun our contemplation. Oh, how great is the mercy of God, who allows man to
participate in such a high degree in His divine happiness! At the same time, what great pain pierces my heart that so
many souls have spurned this happiness.
(1439)
It
is from the face of God that this joy flows out upon all..
February, 1938. During meditation, the Lord gave me knowledge of the joy of
heaven and of the saints on our arrival there; they love God as the sole object
of their love, but they also have a tender and heartfelt love for us. It is
from the face of God that this joy flows out upon all, because we see Him face
to face. His face is so sweet that the soul falls anew into ecstasy. (1592)
I
saw how the Angels and the Saints of the Lord give glory to God
When during adoration, I repeated the prayer, "Holy God" several
times, a vivid presence of God suddenly swept over me, and I was caught up in
spirit before the majesty of God. I saw how the Angels and the Saints of the
Lord give glory to God. The glory of God is so great that I dare not try to
describe it, because I would not be able to do so, and souls might think that
what I have written is all there is. Saint Paul, I understand now why you did
not want to describe heaven, but only said that eye has not seen, nor ear
heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those
who love him...Now I have seen the way in which I adore God; oh how miserable
it is! And what a tiny drop it is in comparison to that perfect heavenly glory.
(1604)